I've Been Shopping

My friend Gill and I have been on a plant buying day today. Most years about now, we have a day out and visit a couple of nurseries on the Kent/Sussex borders – Starborough Nursery and Perryhill Nursery.

Starborough is near Edenbrdge in Kent. It is a small establishment run by a husband and wife team and specialises in acers, rhododendrons and azaleas, camellias and other ericaceous plants. As we have both an acid soil, this is a good place to start. I checked the RHS website last week for opening times but when we got there, they have changed their opening days this year and were closed today so we were not able to spend any time or money with them.

On then to Perryhill near Hartfield. This is a much bigger place and sell literally hundreds if not thousands of different plants – trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, perennials, alpines, bog plants and house plants. It’s open seven days a week so never any problem with opening hours for this one. I had gone with a long list, most of which were in stock so came back with a large haul and a lighter wallet. So what did I buy?

Comments

Great shopping day Andrew. I'm very impressed that you know where they are going I buy lots of thinks on impulse,or because they are reduced, and then haven't a clue where to put them.
Look forward to seeing them all in situ and growing well.

Did you leave any for anybody else? Gosh, you are so organised - I suppose you have to be when planning for open days. I'm like Ginellie - an impulse buyer, always got plants in pots waiting for homes. Hasn't that Gillenia got dainty flowers, beautiful and airy. Haven't seen the white Thalictrum before, lovely plant for shade so I'll be on the lookout.

i've never seen a yellow flowering currant will look forward to seeing it if you post a photo, have had the red one for years (99p from Wilkinson!!!), i like the sound of the yellow though, you're going to be very busy Andrew planting that lot!

Ginellie - sometimes I'm too organised for my own good but I think if you're going to spend money on a plant you should be able to give it the conditions and space it needs and in my crowded garden, I have to be organised to do just that
Wagger - yes, the gillenia has got dainty flowers. It will be going in a red and white border which is why I got a white thalictrum (and a red potentilla)
Sewingkilla - I like to grow unusual stuff too - that's why I went for the yellow ribes